Tethered ball and means to mark ball impact area on club head



Feb. 16, 1965 W. V. HOLMES TETHERED BALL AND MEANS TO MARK BALL IMPACT AREA ON CLUB HEAD Filed May 29, 1963 INVENTOR.

WILLIAM V, HOLMES BY (iimgmmmw United States Patent 3,16%,771 TETHERED BALL AND MEANS T0 MARK BALL IIVIPACT AREA 0N CLUB HEAD William V. Holmes, Rome, N.Y., assignor to Marjorie V. Holmes and Phyllis A. Holmes, both of Rochester, N.Y.

Filed May 29, 1963, Ser. No. 284,120

3 Claims. (Cl. 273186) This invention relates to a golf practice device of the type in which a tethered ball is struck toward a target. More particularly, it relates to such a device in which the ball returns automatically and is provided with marking material for indicating on the club whether or not the ball has been fairly struck.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a golf practice device in which a ball in starting position may be struck by any golf club toward a target and automatically returns to its starting position. 1

Another important object is to provide such a device in which provision is made for continuously covering the ball with marking material so that each time the ball is struck the point of impact of the ball is marked on the club.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a device according to the invention in position for use;

FIGURE 2 is a side elevational view thereof; and

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged front elevational view of the ball and ball-suspending portion of the device, a portion of the ball being in section.

In the drawing the device is provided with support means shown as a stake 11 driven into the ground G. For indoor use, it will be apparent, means may be provided for supporting the stake erect adjacent a conventional driving mat.

A shield member 12 is provided extending transversely from stake 11, the shield having appropriate clamps 13 securing it to the stake so that its height above ground -is easily adjusted. Shield 12 may conveniently be fashioned from a sheet metal plate 14 around the edge of which is welded the rod 15 which connects the plate to the clamps.

At its outer end, the shield is provided with a rounded portion 16 which projects downward and has a coil spring 17 welded to the bottom thereof. The spring has three full turns, the ends of the outer turns being secured to the shield, and a swivel member 18 being slidingly supported on the center turn.

Swivel 18 is triangular to extend around the spring 17, and a shouldered bolt 1? extends through the base of the triangle for securing a pendulum rod 2%) to the swivel so that the rod may freely rotate relative thereto.

At the lower end of rod 20 a golf ball 21 is secured in any convenient manner as, for example, by the nut 22 as shown in FIGURE 3.

At the top of shield 12, above spring 17, an arm 23 is welded extending back of the shield. At the outer end of the arm, a target 24 is secured. Target 24 has a frustoconical shape and its hollow interior, which faces toward ball 21, has a sponge 25 secured therein by adhesive.

The sponge is impregnated with marking material which may be powdered chalk or any suitable liquid dye.

In operation, stake 11 is driven into the ground and the shield 12 adjusted in height by means of clamps 13 so that ball 21 is suspended in teed position just above ground level. The ball is then addressed, the player facing toward the device in the direction of the viewer in FIGURE 2..

The ball is then struck with any chosen club, the striker attempting to hit the target 24 with the ball. After the ball 21 hits the impregnated sponge 25 of the target several times, it becomes covered with chalk or marking die. Each time the ball is struck thereafter, chalk or die is left on the club at the point of impact with the ball. By inspecting his club, the striker can determine if he has hit his shot fairly and correctly, that is, if he has hit the ball with the center of the face of the club.

Spring 17 provides resilient means for securing rod 20 to the shield sothat it is not damaged by the force of the stroke, and also provides a damping effect on the return swing of rod'2t) as ball 21 returns to the normal position just above ground level. Should the target 24 be missed,

rod 20 strikes the shield 12 and bounces away, returning the ball to its normal position automatically so that the striker does not have to lean over to position the ball.

As will be apparent to those familiar with the art, the invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential characteristics there-' suspension means to the shield member, and swivel means permitting said ball to rotate on said suspension means,

said target member being secured to the shield member in the path ofsaid ball when fairly struck, and said suspension means normally supporting said ball immediately above ground level.

2. The golf practice device as defined in claim 1 and characterized 'by said resilient means being in the form of a coiled wire spring having three turns, said swivel means being slidably supported on the central turn, the ends of the outer turns of the spring being secured to said shield member.

3. A practice device for use with any golf club and having means for supporting the device above the playing surface; a shield member projecting transversely from 7 said supporting means; a coiled wire spring having its ends secured to the bottom of the shield member; a.

swivel device slidingly supported on a turn of said spring intermediate its ends; a rod having a golf ball secured to one end and its other end secured to said swivel device, said spring, swivel device, and rod being normally operative to suspend said ball immediately above the playing surface, and operative, when said ball is struck fairly by the club in a direction normal to said shield, to swing the b all tbiwarcl -a-limite1ilarea back of said sliield; a holldw substantially conical target member rigidly secured to said:

shield and having its open end facing said ball in said limited area; and a sponge impregnated with ball-marking material secured in said targetmember, whereby said ball 5 7 said shield being effective to step theball when the target 19 member is missed.-

Refereficesij di t'ed by the Erdufiix'ief i v Q i UNITED STATES, PATENTS Musselmen' 273 18 Burgoyne et 21. 2739-71186 Murdoch ,273-185 Gillette 2 73l98 X Herman 273 -185 Grow 273-186 EILBERT LOWE, Prl'r nary Examiner. 

1. A GOLF PRACTICE DEVICE HAVING MEANS FOR SUPPORTING THE DEVICE ABOVE THE GROUND, A SHIELD MEMBER PROJECTING TRANSVERSELY FROM THE SUPPORTING MEANS, A TARGET MEMBER COMPRISING A RECEPTACLE FILLED WITH A SOFT POROUS MATERIAL IMPREGNATED WITH BALL-MARKING MATERIAL, A TETHERED BALL SUSPENDED FROM SAID SHIELD MEMBER BY SUSPENSION MEANS INCLUDING A RESILIENT MEMBER PIVOTALLY CONNECTING SAID SUSPENSION MEANS TO THE SHIELD MEMBER, AND SWIVEL MEANS PERMITTING SAID BALL TO ROTATE ON SAID SUSPENSION MEANS, SAID TARGET MEMBER BEING SECURED TO THE SHIELD MEMBER IN THE PATH OF SAID BALL WHEN FAIRLY STRUCK, AND SAID SUSPENSION MEANS NORMALLY SUPPORTING SAID BALL IMMEDIATELY ABOVE GROUND LEVEL. 